Valmiki Ramayana 1.7.3: Bala Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 3

अमात्य-गुणवर्णनम्

The Virtues of Daśaratha’s Ministers and the Order of Governance

Devanagari script

धृष्टिर्जयन्तो विजयस्सिद्धार्थो ह्यर्थसाधक: ।अशोको मन्त्रपालश्च सुमन्त्रश्चाष्टमोऽभवत् ।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.7.3

Transliteration

dhṛṣṭir jayanto vijayaḥ siddhārtho hy arthasādhakaḥ |

aśoko mantrapālaś ca sumantraś cāṣṭamo 'bhavat ||

Translation

ധൃഷ്ടി, ജയന്ത, വിജയ, സിദ്ധാർത്ഥ, അർഥസാധക, അശോക, മന്ത്രപാല—എന്നിവരും, എട്ടാമനായി സുമന്ത്രനും ആയിരുന്നു.

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Word by Word

• धृष्टिः: Dhṛṣṭi (name)
• धृष्टिः: कर्ता (one of the subjects listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जयन्तः: Jayanta (name)
• जयन्तः: कर्ता (listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजयः: Vijaya (name)
• विजयः: कर्ता (listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सिद्धार्थः: Siddhārtha (name; ‘one whose aim is accomplished’)
• सिद्धार्थः: कर्ता (listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) [समास]
• Form: कर्मधारय (सिद्धः अर्थः यस्य/सिद्धः अर्थः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अर्थसाधकः: Arthasādhaka (name; ‘accomplisher of aims’)
• अर्थसाधकः: कर्ता (listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + साधक (प्रातिपदिक) [समास]
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्थस्य साधकः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अशोकः: Aśoka (name)
• अशोकः: कर्ता (listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्त्रपालः: Mantrapāla (name; ‘guardian of counsel’)
• मन्त्रपालः: कर्ता (listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + पाल (प्रातिपदिक) [समास]
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रस्य पालः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुमन्त्रः: Sumantra (name; ‘good counsellor’)
• सुमन्त्रः: कर्ता (listed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) [समास]
• Form: कर्मधारय (सुः मन्त्रः/सु-मन्त्रः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अष्टमः: eighth
• अष्टमः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘सुमन्त्रः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रमसंख्या-विशेषण (ordinal); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभवत्: was / became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Verb: ‘was’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

The mighty and glorious (king Dasaratha) had eight ministers who were free from blemish in their dealings and ever devoted to royal duties.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Jayanta
• Vijaya
• Siddhārtha
• Aśoka
• Sumantra

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma in governance is institutional as well as personal: righteous rule is supported by a structured council of responsible ministers.

What is the narrative situation?

The text enumerates the eight key ministers serving Daśaratha, continuing the description of his orderly administration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competent statecraft through counsel—highlighting the importance of qualified advisers in sustaining dharmic kingship.